Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of Vera Therapeutics Call Options (NASDAQ:VERA)

Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VERA) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock traders bought 7,008 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,626% compared to the typical volume of 406 call options.

Insider Transactions at Vera Therapeutics

In other Vera Therapeutics news, Director Patrick G. Enright bought 5,882 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $42.50 per share, with a total value of $249,985.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 5,882 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $249,985. This represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Joseph R. Young sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.06, for a total transaction of $435,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 47,839 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,390,201.34. This represents a 23.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 16.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Vera Therapeutics

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics during the second quarter worth $51,000. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC lifted its holdings in Vera Therapeutics by 404.7% in the first quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 4,007 shares of the company’s stock valued at $96,000 after acquiring an additional 3,213 shares during the period. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC grew its stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC now owns 4,176 shares of the company’s stock worth $98,000 after purchasing an additional 539 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 192.9% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,186 shares of the company’s stock valued at $99,000 after purchasing an additional 2,757 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.21% of the company’s stock.

Vera Therapeutics Stock Down 1.1%

Vera Therapeutics stock traded down $0.56 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $50.61. 440,101 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,422,306. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 12.21 and a current ratio of 12.21. The firm has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.69 and a beta of 1.21. The business has a fifty day moving average of $37.11 and a 200 day moving average of $28.72. Vera Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $18.53 and a 12-month high of $56.05.

Vera Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VERA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The company reported ($1.26) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.20) by ($0.06). During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.85) earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Vera Therapeutics will post -2.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VERA. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Vera Therapeutics from $60.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Pivotal Research set a $73.00 target price on Vera Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Wedbush upped their price target on Vera Therapeutics from $23.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Vera Therapeutics from $99.00 to $96.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Vera Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Vera Therapeutics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $74.83.

About Vera Therapeutics

Vera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies that harness the body’s own regulatory T cells to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. By leveraging a proprietary protein engineering platform, the company designs Treg-selective cytokine variants intended to restore immune balance and provide targeted, disease-modifying effects. Its pipeline comprises multiple preclinical and clinical candidates aimed at indications characterized by chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Vera Therapeutics collaborates with leading academic and research institutions to advance its development programs.